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Bob Balaban

Actor | Director | Producer

Trivia:

Published a diary of his experiences working on the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. See more trivia »

Born:

Robert Elmer Balaban
in Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Bob Balaban Still of Bob Balaban in Girls Bob Balaban at event of Being Flynn Bob Balaban Bob Balaban, Regis Philbin and Joshua Sapan Still of Bob Balaban, Don Lake and Deborah Theaker in A Mighty Wind
95 photos | 91 videos | 459 news articles »

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Nominated for Oscar. Another 11 wins & 14 nominations See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActor (93 titles)
???? Landlocked (pre-production)
Professor Irwin
 
2013 The Monuments Men (filming)
 
2014 The Grand Budapest Hotel (post-production)
 
2013 Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight (post-production)
 
2013 Girls (TV series)
Therapist
– It's Back (2013) … Therapist (uncredited)
 
2012 Santa Fe Thursday (short)
 
2012 Moonrise Kingdom
The Narrator
 
2011-2012 The Good Wife (TV series)
Gordon Higgs
– Bitcoin for Dummies (2012) … Gordon Higgs
– Executive Order 13224 (2011) … Gordon Higgs
 
2011 A Monster in Paris
Pâté (voice: English version)
 
2011 Web Therapy (TV series)
Ted Mitchell
– Shrink Rap (2011) … Ted Mitchell
 
2011 Thin Ice
Leonard Dahl
 
2011 The Five Stages of Grief (short)
Daniel's Father (voice)
 
2010 F--K (short)
Bob
 
2010 Howl
Judge Clayton Horn
 
2009/I Rage
Mr. White
 
2008 Web Therapy (TV series)
Ted Mitchell
– The Breakthrough: 2 of 3 (2008) … Ted Mitchell
– The Breakthrough: 3 of 3 (2008) … Ted Mitchell
– The Breakthrough: Part 1 (2008) … Ted Mitchell
 
2008 Recount (TV movie)
Ben Ginsberg
 
2007 No Reservations
Therapist
 
2007 Entourage (TV series)
Doctor
– The Dream Team (2007) … Doctor
 
2007 License to Wed
Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)
 
2007 Dedication
Arthur Planck
 
2006 For Your Consideration
Philip Koontz
 
2006 Tom Goes to the Mayor (TV series)
Walt Pickle
– The Layover (2006) … Walt Pickle (voice)
 
2006 Lady in the Water
Harry Farber
 
2005 Trust the Man
Tobey's Therapist (uncredited)
 
2005 Capote
William Shawn
 
2005 Hopeless Pictures (TV series)
Sam
– Dogville (2005) … Sam (voice)
– Episode #1.2 (2005) … Sam (voice)
– Cry Clown (2005) … Sam (voice)
 
2004 Gerald L'Ecuyer: A Filmmaker's Journey (TV movie)
 
2004 Scene Stealers
Jonathan Crouch Esq.
 
2004 Marie and Bruce
Roger
 
2003 A Mighty Wind
Jonathan Steinbloom
 
2002 The Burbs (TV movie)
 
2002 The Tuxedo
Winton Chalmers (uncredited)
 
2002 The Education of Max Bickford (TV series)
Dr. Lowell Sherman
– I Never Schlunged My Father (2002) … Dr. Lowell Sherman
 
2001 The Majestic
Elvin Clyde
 
2001 Gosford Park
Morris Weissman
 
2001 Ghost World
Enid's Dad
 
2001/I Plan B
James Foster
 
2001 The Mexican
Bernie Nayman
 
2000 Best in Show
Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
 
2000 Now and Again (TV series)
Frederick Lizzard
– Lizzard's Tale (2000) … Frederick Lizzard
 
2000 The West Wing (TV series)
Ted Marcus
– 20 Hours in L.A. (2000) … Ted Marcus
 
2000 Tex, the Passive-Aggressive Gunslinger (short)
Tex
 
1999 Three to Tango
Decker
 
1999 Natural Selection
Dr. William Powell
 
1999 Jakob the Liar
Kowalsky
 
1999 Cradle Will Rock
Harry Hopkins
 
1999 Swing Vote (TV movie)
Justice Eli MacCorckle
 
1999 Friends (TV series)
Frank Buffay Sr.
– The One with Joey's Bag (1999) … Frank Buffay Sr.
 
1998 Giving Up the Ghost (TV movie)
Bob
 
1997 Deconstructing Harry
Richard
 
1997 Clockwatchers
Milton Lasky
 
1997 The Definite Maybe
Wolfe Rollins
 
1996 Conversation with the Beast
Mr. Webster
 
1996 Waiting for Guffman
Lloyd Miller
 
1996 The Late Shift (TV movie)
Warren Littlefield
 
1996 Pie in the Sky
Paul Entamen
 
1995 Legend (TV series)
Harry Parver
– Revenge of the Herd (1995) … Harry Parver
– Birth of a Legend (1995) … Harry Parver
 
1994 City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited)
 
1994 Greedy
Ed
 
1993 For Love or Money
Ed Drinkwater
 
1992-1993 Seinfeld (TV series)
Russell Dalrymple
– The Pilot (1993) … Russell Dalrymple
– The Shoes (1993) … Russell Dalrymple
– The Watch (1992) … Russell Dalrymple
– The Pitch (1992) … Russell Dalrymple
– The Ticket (1992) … Russell Dalrymple
 
1993 Amos & Andrew
Dr. R.A. 'Roy' Fink
 
1992 Unnatural Pursuits (TV series)
Lou Finkleberg
– I'm the Author (1992) … Lou Finkleberg
 
1992 Bob Roberts
Michael Janes
 
1991 Little Man Tate
Quizmaster (uncredited)
 
1990 Alice
Sid Moscowitz
 
1990 The Face of Fear (TV movie)
Ira Preduski
 
1989 Dead Bang
Elliot Webly
 
1987 End of the Line
Warren Gerber
 
1987 Amazing Stories (TV series)
Jo-Jo Gillespie
– Gershwin's Trunk (1987) … Jo-Jo Gillespie
 
1987 Invisible Thread (TV movie) (uncredited)
 
1985-1986 Miami Vice (TV series)
Ira Stone
– Stone's War (1986) … Ira Stone
– Back in the World (1985) … Ira Stone
 
1984 2010
Dr. R. Chandra
 
1981 Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Carter Hill
 
1981 Absence of Malice
Rosen
 
1981 Prince of the City
Santimassino
 
1980 Altered States
Arthur Rosenberg
 
1978 Girlfriends
Martin
 
1977 Close Encounters of the Third Kind
David Laughlin
 
1976 Maude (TV series)
Ambrose Riley
– Maude's Ex-Convict (1976) … Ambrose Riley
 
1975 Report to the Commissioner
Joey Egan (as Robert Balaban)
 
1974 Bank Shot
Victor Karp
 
1971-1972 Mod Squad (TV series)
Tony / Walter
– Belinda, End of Little Miss Bubble Gum (1972) … Tony
– A Short Course in War (1971) … Walter
 
1971 Marriage: Year One (TV movie)
Bernie
 
1971 Making It
Wilkie
 
1971 Love, American Style (TV series)
Nick (segment "Love and the Fuzz")
– Love and the Fuzz/Love and the Groupie/Love and the Housekeeper/Love and Women's Lib (1971) … Nick (segment "Love and the Fuzz")
 
1970 Catch-22
Capt. Orr
 
1970 The Strawberry Statement
Elliot - Organizer
 
1969 Room 222 (TV series)
Grady Garrett
– Fathers and Sons (1969) … Grady Garrett
 
1969 Me, Natalie
Morris
 
1969 Midnight Cowboy
The Young Student - New York
 
1965 Hank (TV series)
Harvey
– Will the Real Harvey Wheatley Please Stand Up? (1965) … Harvey (as Robert Balaban)
 
Show ShowDirector (24 titles)
2011-2012 Nurse Jackie (TV series)
– No-Kimono-Zone (2012)
– One-Armed Jacks (2012)
– The Astonishing (2011)
– Orchids and Salami (2011)
 
2009 Georgia O'Keeffe (TV movie)
 
2008 Swingtown (TV series)
– Go Your Own Way (2008)
 
2006 Bernard and Doris
 
2005 Hopeless Pictures (TV series)
 
2005 The Exonerated (TV movie)
 
2004 The First Amendment Project: No Joking (TV documentary)
 
2002-2003 The Twilight Zone (TV series)
– Pharaoh's Curse (2003)
– Future Trade (2002)
 
2001 Dead Last (TV series)
 
2000 Deadline (TV series)
– Perception (2000)
 
2000 Now and Again (TV series)
– Lizzard's Tale (2000)
 
1999 Strangers with Candy (TV series)
– Jerri Is Only Skin Deep (1999)
 
1998 Oz (TV series)
– Great Men (1998)
 
1997 SUBWAYStories: Tales from the Underground (TV movie) (segment "5: 24, The")
 
1997 Directors on Directors (TV series documentary)
 
1995 Legend (TV series)
– Revenge of the Herd (1995)
 
1994 The Last Good Time
 
1993 My Boyfriend's Back
 
1991-1992 Eerie, Indiana (TV series)
– Zombies in P.J.s (1992)
– Marshall's Theory of Believability (1992)
– The Lost Hour (1991)
 
1989 Parents
 
1987 Invisible Thread (TV movie)
 
1985 Amazing Stories (TV series)
– Fine Tuning (1985)
 
1983 Tales from the Darkside (TV series)
– Trick or Treat (Pilot) (1983)
 
1983 The Brass Ring (TV movie)
 
Show ShowProducer (10 titles)
2008 Beautiful Hills of Brooklyn (short) (executive producer)
 
2006 Bernard and Doris (executive producer)
 
2006 The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman (TV series) (executive producer)
 
2005 Celebrity Charades (TV series) (executive producer)
 
2005 The Exonerated (TV movie) (executive producer)
 
2002 Lost in the Snow (video short) (producer)
 
2002 The Burbs (TV movie) (executive producer)
 
2001 Gosford Park (producer)
 
1997 The Definite Maybe (executive producer)
 
1994 The Last Good Time (producer)
 
Show ShowWriter (7 titles)
2004 The First Amendment Project: No Joking (TV documentary)
 
2002 The Burbs (TV movie)
 
2001 Gosford Park (idea)
 
1994 The Last Good Time (screenplay)
 
1989 Monsters (TV series)
– The Farmer's Daughter (1989) (writer)
 
1988 Tales from the Darkside (TV series)
– Do Not Open This Box (1988) (writer)
 
1977 Maude (TV series)
– Phillip's Birthday Party (1977) (story)
 
Show ShowMiscellaneous Crew (2 titles)
2001 Gosford Park (idea)
 
1988 Tales from the Darkside (TV series) (production consultant - 1 episode)
– Do Not Open This Box (1988) (production consultant)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (1 title)
1997 Deconstructing Harry (performer: "When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along" 1926)
 
Show ShowThanks (5 titles)
2009 Leaves of Grass (the director wishes to thank)
 
2006 After Midnight: Reflecting on a Classic 35 Years Later (video short) (special thanks)
 
2006 Celebrating Schlesinger (video short) (special thanks)
 
2006 Controversy and Acclaim (video short) (special thanks)
 
1995 Wigstock: The Movie (documentary) (thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (30 titles)
2012 Overheard (TV series)
Himself - interviewee
– Bob Balaban (2012) … Himself - interviewee
 
2012 Made in Hollywood (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #7.29 (2012) … Himself
 
2012 Nimrod in Cannes (TV mini-series)
Himself
 
2010 Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood (TV mini-series documentary)
Director / Himself / Himself - Actor / …
– Fade Out, Fade In (2010) … Himself
– The Dream Merchants: 1920-1928 (2010) … Himself - Actor, Director
– The Birth of Hollywood - 1907-1920 (2010) … Himself - Actor / Director
– Peepshow Pioneers (2010) … Himself - Actor and Director
 
2008 The Windmill Movie (documentary)
Himself
 
2007 Biography (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Catherine Zeta-Jones (2007) … Himself
 
2006 Reflections of Lady in the Water (video documentary short)
 
2006 Controversy and Acclaim (video short)
Himself - 'The Young Student' (also archive footage)
 
2006 Celebrating Schlesinger (video short)
Himself
 
2006 Bob Builds His Dream House (TV series)
Himself
 
2005 Seinfeld: Jason + Larry = George (video documentary short)
Himself
 
2005 A Comic's Climb at the USCAF (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2004 The First Amendment Project: No Joking (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2004 IFP Gotham Awards 2004 (TV special)
Host
 
2003 I Love the '70s (TV series documentary)
Himself
 
2003 Day for Night: Truffaut in the USA (video documentary short)
Himself
 
2002 This Is Your Life (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Julian Fellowes (2002) … Himself
 
2001 The Making of 'Gosford Park' (TV documentary short)
Himself
 
2001 HBO First Look (TV series documentary)
Elvin Clyde / Himself
– The Majestic (2001) … Elvin Clyde / Himself
 
2001 Anatomy of a Scene (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Gosford Park … Himself
 
2001 The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (video documentary)
Himself
 
1999 Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (TV series)
Himself
– Expert Witness (1999) … Himself
 
1999 The Directors (TV series documentary)
Himself
– The Films of Peter Hyams … Himself
 
1989 Funny (documentary)
Himself
 
1984 In Our Hands (documentary)
Himself
 
1984 2010: The Odyssey Continues (documentary short)
Himself (uncredited)
 
1982 The Making of 'Absence of Malice' (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1981 Today (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 30 December 1981 (1981) … Himself
 
1977 The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1971 The Irv Kupcinet Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 3 July 1971 (1971) … Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (1 title)
1976 America at the Movies (documentary)
Capt. Orr (uncredited)
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

(April 2002) Stage: Supervising director for "The Exonerated" by 'Jessica Blank' and Erik Jensen (The Actors' Gang, Hollywood, CA). See more »

Publicity Listings:

5 Interviews  | 1 Article  | 1 Magazine Cover Photo  | See more »

Alternate Names:

Robert Balaban

Height:

5' 5" (1.65 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

God, I'd love to do a big commercial movie that made a lot of money and whose plot was interesting, too. See more »

Trivia:

Published a diary of his experiences working on the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. See more »

Star Sign:

Leo